The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-19
Healthful Diversions and Those
Which Are Unhealthfll.
The Text: "They that Use This
World as Not Abusing It."
Music, the Gymnasium, the Rod,
the Gun, the Skate Commended.
The Pleasure of Doing Good - Mere
Secular Amusements Not Fit
Foundation for the Soul
to Build On.

BRooKLYN n. v, Dec. lS.-At the Tab
srnacle this morning the whole conerega-
lion sang the hymn beginning:
THE hill Of Zion yields
A thousand sacred sweets
Before We reach the heavenly fields
Or walk the golden Streets"
The Rev. T. Dewitt Talmage, ID,
preached on "Rccreations Good and Bad, I"
taking two texts: /. Corinthians vii, 81
'They that use this world, as not abusing
it," and Judges xvi, %: "And il came TO
pass, when their hearts were merry, that
they said, Call for Samson, that he may
make us sport. And they called for Sam.
son out of the prison house; and he made
them sport" DR.. Talmage said:
1--WE are entering the gayest season Of
the year. The winter opens before us the
gates Of Thousand amusemcnts-some of
them good and some bad One of my
texts will show you that amusements may
be destructive; my other text will show
you that amusements may be under the
divine blessing and direction.
'1'here were 5000 people assembled in
the temple OF Dagon. They had come 10
make sport OF eyeless Samson. They were
all ready for the entertainment. They be-
gan to clap and pound, inpatient for the
amusement 10 begin, and they cried
Fetch him outl Fetch him out' Yon-
der see the blind old giant coming, led
by the hand OF a child, into the very midst
Of the temple. At his first appearance
there goes up shout Of laughter and de-
rision. The blind old giant prctends be is
tired and wants TO rest himself against
the pillars OF the house; 30 he
says to the lad who leads HIM
SHOW me where the main pillars are
The lad does 30. Then the strong man
puts his right hand on one pillar and his
left hand on another pillar, and, with the
mightiest push that mortal ever made,
throws himself forward until the whole
house comes down in thunderous crash,
grinding the audience like grapes in wine
#press. And so II came to pass, when their
|hcars were merry, that they said, Call for
JSamson, that he may make us sport. And
II they called for Samson out Of the prison.
house; and he made them sport
a "In other words, there are amusements
that are destructive, and bring down dis
nster and death upon the heads Of those
who practice them. While they laugh and
cheer, they die. The 5000 who perished
that day in Gaza are as nothing compared
with the tens OF thousands who have been
destroyed by sinful amuscmcnts.
ttTlsfN Nl... .,f1..r l Iu.a. ...I t.....f..a
that there is lawful use Of the world, as
well as nm unlawful abuse OF II, and the
difference between the man christian and
the man unchrist.an is that in the former
case the man masters the world, while in
the latter case the world masters him. For
whom did God make this grand and beau
tilul world2 For whom this wonderful ex-
penditure Of color, this graceitilness Of line
this mosaic Of the grcund, this ircsco Of
the sky, this glowing iruitagc Of orchard
and vineyard, this full orchestra OF the
tempest, in which the tree branches flute,
and the winds trumpet, and the tlulndcrs
drum. and all the splcndos Of the earth
and sky come clashing their cymbals? For
whom did God spring the archcd bridge OF
oolom resting upon huttrcsses OF broken
ftorm-cloud2 For whom did hc gather
the upholstery Of fire around the window
Of the setting sum- For all men; but more
especially ior his own dear children.
''lf you build a large mansion. and
spread q great least after Il 10 celebrate
th, 'pletion Of the structure, do YOU
all0i 'ngcrs TO come In and occupy the
place, lie XQu thrust your own children
IN the sGriIcusOr the barn or the fields?
oh, no. You say: i am very glad TO sec
stranger in my mansion, but my own
.Auts..l.NsaH Il. al. a.
night there. Now, God has built this
grand mansion Of world, and he has
spread q glorious feast In Il, and, while
those who are strangers 10 his grace may
como IN, think that God especially in.
tends 10 give the advantage 70 his own
childrcn-thosc who are the sOns and the
daughters oi the Lord Almighty; those
who, through grace, can look mp aud say:
Abba, Father You cannot make me
believe that God gives more advantages
% the world than he gives tO the church
/ bought 10y his own blood. ii, therefore,
people Of the world have looked with
dolorous sympathy upon those who make
profession OF religion, aud have said.
Those new converts are going down into
priyation and into hardship; why did
they not iarry n liillo longer in the world
and have some OF Us cnjoymcnts and
amuscmonts and rccreationsY / say 10
such men Of the world: You are greatly
mistaken, and before | get through will
show that those people who stay out OF
T. The kingdom Of God have the hardships
and selldenals, while those who come In
have the Joys and the satisfaction.
This morning, in the name Of the King
OF heaven and earth, serve writ OF
ejectment upon all the sinful and polluted
who have squatted on the domain OF
earthly pleasure as though IL belonged 10
them, while claim, in behalf Of the good
and the pure aud the true, the eternal
inheritance which God has given them.
Hitherto christian philanthropists,
clerical and lay, have busied themselves
chiefly In dcnouncing sinful recreatons;
hut feel We have no right 10 stand before
MN and women in whose hearts there Is n
d sire Tor recreation amounting 20 positive
necessity, dcnouncing this and that and
the other thing, when we do not propose
to give them something better. God
helping me this morning and with refer
ence 10 my last account shall enter upon
sphere not usual In sermonizlng, but n
subject which think ought TO be present
cd al this time. ] nronosn nnv Ia Law he